The group was created by manager Albert Grossman, who sought to create a folk "supergroup" by bringing together "a tall blonde (Travers), a funny guy (Stookey), and a good looking guy (Yarrow)." He launched the group in 1961, booking them into the Bitter End, a coffee house in New York City's Greenwich Village that was a favorite place to hear folk artists.
The group recorded their first album, Peter, Paul and Mary, the following year. It included "500 Miles," "Lemon Tree","Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and the hit Pete Seeger tune "If I Had a Hammer," ("The Hammer Song"). The album was listed on Billboard Magazine Top Ten list for ten months and in the Top One Hundred for over three years.
By 1963 they had recorded three albums; released the now-famous song "Puff the Magic Dragon", which Yarrow and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton originally wrote in 1959 and was on the charts in 1963; and performed "If I Had a Hammer" at the 1963 March on Washington, best remembered for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Their biggest single hit came with the Bob Dylan song, "Blowin' in the Wind," which was an international #1 hit. It was the fastest selling single ever cut by Warner Brothers Records. For many years after, the group was at the forefront of the civil rights movement and other causes promoting social justice. Their later hit "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was actually written by the then unknown John Denver.
The trio broke up in 1970 to pursue separate solo careers, but found little of the success they did as a group, although Stookey's "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (written for Yarrow's marriage to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of senator Eugene McCarthy) was a hit and has become a wedding standard since its 1971 release.
In 1978, they reunited for a concert to protest nuclear energy, and have recorded albums together and toured since. They currently play around 25 shows a year.[1]
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2005, Travers was diagnosed with leukemia, leading to the cancellation of the remaining tour dates for that year. She received a bone marrow transplant and She and the rest of the trio resumed their concert tour on December 9, 2005 with a holiday performance at Carnegie Hall and were scheduled for several additional concerts in 2006.Sadly she passed away in Sept 2009.
Peter, Paul and Mary received in 2006 the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievment Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Moments Of The Soft Persuasion
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chiming bells, the first occasion
Tell the rest a smile awaken
Till the last reminder shaken
From whatever rude and sorrow
Now, the time is now, tomorrow
In the instant of remaking
In the instant of the living
Just the taking of the giving
Nothing more than earth and water
Smiles of spring from barren daughter
Who at last in perfect motion
Turning ?round embrace the ocean
Gracious calf of mankind suffering
Sacrifice of old is ending
In the instant of remaking
Just the giving of the taking
In the instant of the living
Just the taking of the giving
Moments of the soft persuasion
Chiming bells, the first occasion
Tell the rest a smile awaken
Till the last reminder shaken
From whatever rude and sorrow
Now, the time is now, tomorrow
The lyrics of "Moments of Soft Persuasion" by Peter, Paul, and Mary are about embracing the beauty of life and living in the present moment. The song speaks of the fleeting nature of time, urging listeners to appreciate every moment of their existence. The "soft persuasion" refers to the gentle, calming force that encourages us to live life to the fullest, enjoying every smile, every moment, and every opportunity presented to us.
The first stanza describes the importance of the first moments in life, the ones that awaken us to the beauty of the world around us. These moments are compared to "chiming bells" that capture our attention and alert us to the fact that something wonderful is happening. The phrase "till the last reminder shaken" suggests that we should try and hold onto these moments, as they offer solace during difficult times.
The second stanza emphasizes the importance of giving and taking, and living in the moment. It suggests that life is made up of a series of exchanges and that we should savor every interaction with others. The third stanza speaks of the majesty of nature and how it can provide us with a sense of clarity and purpose. The idea that the "sacrifice of old is ending" suggests that we are in a new era, where we can appreciate the beauty of nature without having to make sacrifices for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Our moments of the soft persuasion
The moments of subtle influence on our lives
Chiming bells, the first occasion
The first hint or awakening of this influence
Tell the rest a smile awaken
Spreading this subtle influence and awareness to others
Till the last reminder shaken
Continuing to remember and be affected by this persuasion until the end
From whatever rude and sorrow
Despite any unpleasant circumstances or hardships
Now, the time is now, tomorrow
The present moment is the most important time to act and be influenced
Just the giving of the taking
Simple acts of generosity can have a significant impact
Just the taking of the giving
Receiving with gratitude is equally important in the cycle of giving and receiving
Nothing more than earth and water
We are all made of basic elements and share a common connection
Smiles of spring from barren daughter
Signs of hope and new beginnings can emerge from unlikely sources
Who at last in perfect motion
Finally finding a harmonious balance or rhythm
Turning ?round embrace the ocean
Facing the vastness of the unknown with acceptance and openness
Gracious calf of mankind suffering
Humanity as a whole undergoing difficulties with grace and compassion
Sacrifice of old is ending
Moving away from harmful or outdated practices towards a more enlightened way of living
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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